Search form

Anderson, Rabin, and Wakeman (ARW) took the stage Sunday night at San Francisco’s Masonic Auditorium to an enraptured crowd. There have been numerous configurations of the Yes lineup, yet perhaps none that so perfectly encapsulates the band’s journey through various eras. Wakeman hails from the prog-focused 1970s, and Rabin from the decidedly more pop-oriented 1980s, while founding member Jon Anderson serves as the lynchpin between the eras, having delivered his striking vocals through both. The last time the trio shared the stage was 25 years ago, and the significance of experiencing this lineup after a quarter century break was obviously not lost on the audience. Sunday marked the final stop on the North American leg of the tour, though ARW will tour internationally in March of 2017.

Hoppy Holidays 2016 | Review and Photos

Kyle Hollingsworth’s Hoppy Holidays-now in its third year supporting local non-profit Conscious Alliance-keeps on giving Coloradans what they want. With over thirty breweries pouring their best suds for those peeled away from the couch and college football, jubilant times flourished under the signature Fillmore chandeliers.

Turkuaz & New Mastersounds | San Fran

Falling right in the middle of the three-month run, over the weekend of November 11 and 12, the show returned to the San Francisco Bay Area for a show at the new UC Theatre in Berkley and an appearance at the legendary Fillmore. The last time these two bands were in California was over the 4th of July weekend for the 26th High Sierra Music Festival. The bands found time on that trip to make it into an Oakland studio where they tracked a special edition 7-inch vinyl to be made available on tour. The two-track disc features the bands covering one of the others’ originals.

Sturgill Simpson | A Sailor's Guide to Earth

At first listen to singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson, you can hear the roots of yesteryear's country music outlaws, from Waylon Jennings and Jerry Reed to Merle Haggard (and if this is your first listen, where have you been). After further listening one can hear he is a phenomenon with his own unique flavor of Americana. Simpson is trailblazing his own path to musical success.

Grateful Web Interview with Amy Helm

Grateful Web recently had a humbling opportunity to speak with Amy Helm, mandolinist, singer/songwriter, and bandleader of The Handsome Strangers. She also cofounded Midnight Ramble Band, whose roots began with her father the late and great Levon Helm, an Arkansan who met a gifted group of Canadian musicians and inevitably formed The Band in 1964. They would go on to write some of the finest lyrics in Rock, bringing a much deeper legitimacy to what had formerly (aside from perhaps The Beatles) been more superficial. They also integrated groundbreaking roots music styles that had never been part of rock music before.

David Nelson Band featuring Vince Herman

Nelson continues to tour regularly with the New Riders. Unfortunately, in September while on tour, Nelson took a spill, fell down, and badly injured his shoulder. His condition continues to improve but not quite quickly enough to make his ritualistic Harvest Tour. Recovery was imminent as the fans and band totally understood. Nelson saw this moment not as a setback, but as an opportunity. He tapped an old familiar cohort who he admired for his personality, abilities, and confidence as a longtime bandleader. Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon was approached by Nelson to front his exceedingly talented band for the West Coast Fall Tour and Herman humbly accepted the offer, finding himself in a rare gap between his own busy touring schedule.

KWahtro | Belly Up Tavern | Review

Keller Williams and KWahtro, consisting of Gibb Droll on Guitar, Danton Boller on Double Bass, and Rodney Holmes on drums, descended on the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, CA last Friday, November 4, 2016. Zach Deputy opened for KWahtro, bringing his Island-infused, Drum-n-Bass, Gospel-ninja Soul music to the San Diego area. In true solo-Keller fashion, Zach Deputy deploys a loop pedal to layer chords, drums, bass, beat-boxing, and vocals to bring his island-acoustic-reggae dance music to life.

An Evening of Yes Music and More

Back in 1990, three former YES band members, vocalist Jon Anderson, guitarist Trevor Rabin and keyboardist Rick Wakeman rejoined forces for the successful YES ‘Union Tour’. In 2010, the three talents decided to create their own band, which they named ARW (Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman). As their 2016 tour promised, their aim was to play YES hits and more.

Hangtown Music Festival 2016 | Review

Sitting at the base of the mountains in Placerville, California, High Sierra’s sister festival Hangtown Music Festival covered 4 days of festivities which included beer tasting, meditation, yoga, costumes, but most of all, for the rock solid line up of diverse musicians. El Dorado County Fairgrounds opened its door with a freshly titled, Hangtown Music Festival. They may have dropped the Halloween Ball from their name, but that certainly didn’t slow down the party of twirling costumes under sunny skies and cool mountain air all weekend long.

Hillberry Festival 2016 | Review & Photos

Fall bluegrass festivals are usually pretty perfect no matter where you are. There's that cool heaviness in the air and the crisp laughter of folks coming together to enjoy the natural sound of bluegrass. This year's Hillberry Music Festival in Eureka Springs, AR was no exception. The stellar lineup and fantastic scenery compelled people from all over the U.S. to travel to Arkansas for a weekend of music and meaningful experiences.

Bob Weir | Oakland, CA | 10/8/16 | Review

Bob Weir was quite literally born and bred in music. The adopted son of loving parents Frederic Utter and Eleanor Cramer Weir, his identity would deepen and develop in his youth. Though his parents did their best (Mama Tried) Weir’s nature was rebellious and questioning. His dyslexia didn’t help matters. In his teens, Weir was shipped off from his birthplace of San Francisco to Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs, Colorado where hopes were that he would straighten out. About the opposite happened, as Weir would meet his future musical partner John Perry Barlow. It was in Colorado and Wyoming alongside his new friend John that Bob’s identity would ripen. Barlow was the son of Wyoming cattle ranchers, which resulted in a massive cultural exchange for the urban-kept Weir. It was then that his affinity for the Wild West was born. And then of course there was the little mater of his thirty-year career as a founding member of American Psychedelic Roots Rock institution the Grateful Dead that followed.

Bob Weir | San Rafael | 10/7/16 | Review

“Never trust a prankster,” a motto of the Acid Test-producing Merry Pranksters back in the 1960s, was apropos on Friday, at Bob Weir’s inaugural Campfire Tour show in San Rafael, California. In support of Weir’s new countrified, ballad-heavy album, “Blue Mountain,” all signs pointed to a live show in which Weir’s new band would mosey on through a series of sparse, slow-paced odes.

Catskill Chill Music Festival 2016 | Review

Catskill Chill is a music festival held towards the end of the summer music festival season. Most people are burnt out, broke, or unable to take anymore time off to attend another music festival. If you had an excuse for why you couldn’t attend this year’s Catskill Chill at New Minglewood, you won’t be making those same excuses next year after learning about their extremely successful transition to a new campground.

Deep Roots Mountain Revival '16 | Review

The felt moment of immediate experience has been lost. Perhaps we have given it away by not accessing it. Perhaps it was robbed by this mainstream media/cereal box religion/consumer culture. Music festivals help us drop out of the noisy centralized confines of the Matrix and fall into the magic of experience; to revel in the full richness of the moment. It is a domain of feeling, and at best it is a vector of love, light, good vibrations and community.

Hot Tuna | GAMH | San Francisco | Review

While art will always be a progressive process and reflect the changes of the people in our evolving world, some things are best kept preserved. Music is the perfect example of this. Progressive Rock, Jazz Fusion, Post Punk, New Wave, an echo of the culture and climate that influenced these musicians. While blues preservationist and psychedelic rock pioneers Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady might be most famous as the guitarist and bassist of the iconic San Francisco rock band Jefferson Airplane, it’s their ongoing blues roots project Hot Tuna that has continued over the decades.

Grateful Web Interview with Reed Mathis

Reed Mathis has a music making career that spans 22 years since first forming Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey in 1994. Passion spills out of him from his enthusiasm for life, love, and talking bass, so much so, that I believe this project will keep him going for the next several years. Electric Beethoven will keep growing and engaging audiences juxtaposing his new / old style amassing more and more energy along the way. At age 12, Reed Mathis performed Vivaldi with a mandolin. This is a seed that has finally broken ground. Mathis is a well-known collaborator with such acts as Steve Kimock, Bill Kreutzmann (Billy & the Kids), 7 Walkers, and most recently he has left his 8 year tenure with Tea Leaf Green to pursue new projects.

Grateful Web Interview with Bridget Law

On a fine day in September, Grateful Web’s Michelle Miesse sat down with Elephant Revival's Bridget Law to discuss her inspirations, what it feels like to play alongside a symphony and some of the best things she’s learned recently. An inspiration in the folk and fiddle worlds, Law seems naturally drawn to humanitarianism and music.

Outlaw Music Festival 2016 | Review

Of course when you’re 83 and still on the road, you’re two days removed from releasing your 60th-something album, that guitar is one of the art forms’ religious icons, and you’re the main reason the term “outlaw” is even attached to music, the pressure’s not quite as hot. In fact, Willie Nelson could’ve taken long stretches off from his inaugural Outlaw Music Festival closing set by listening to his legions of fans joyously serenade him with his own words as he tore through a collection of classics.

Catskill Chill Music Festival 2016 | Preview

This year’s festival is bringing in the big boys. Mike Gordon will be there for his last summer performance before resting up for his fall tour. Greensky Bluegrass will be coming in hot from a two-night run in the Green Mountain state. Keller Williams & Grateful Grass will be brewing up my favorite take on Dead songs. All of these headliners are a do not miss.

Tedeschi Trucks Band | 9/8/16 | Review

The Tedeschi Trucks Band displayed in Oakland, California, why its stock has vaulted the group toward the top echelon of touring outfits and headlining roles at many-a-music festival. Anchored by a couple of blues-rock stalwarts, each with a consummate musical pedigree, the husband-and-wife team of Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks presided over the 12-piece ensemble’s performance on Sept. 8 that was all at once brilliant, exhilarating, wide-ranging, and classy. With its intimate capacity of 2,800, the ornate midtown Fox Theatre, originally opened in 1928 (then closed in 1973 until extensive renovations allowed it to re-open in 2009), provided a wonderful space for the event.

EOTO | Avalon Hollywood | 9/9/16 | Review

Friday nights at the AVALON Hollywood typically consist of a DJs and electronic acts performing on the main stage, replete with wrap around screens, lasers, and stage lights, as well as the lobby stage in this historic nightclub. Friday night was not a normal night near the corner of Hollywood & Vine however, as Michael Travis and Jason Hann of The String Cheese Incident brought their organic, improvisational brand of electronic music to Control Fridays with EOTO(End of Time Observatory). Suits, ties and eveningwear meets jeans, dreads, and concert tees. The evening’s lineup consisted of Ameria, Citizun, ill.Gates, EOTO, and Son of Kick on the main stage, and CXRLXS V, DJ Charlie :D, Savage, Terry Pham, and Thomas Crowne on the lobby stage.

Lockn' Festival 2016 | Review and Photos

The unforgettable musical moments happening at Oak Ridge are stunningly extraordinary. Lockn' is quickly establishing itself as a musical Mecca filled with a high-vibration community of tens of thousands of faithful followers filling the fields of Arrington, VA. It truly is so special, so heavenly. Pure magic. If we could put it in a bottle and share it with the world, we would! For free! Medicine for the People.

Grateful Web Interview w/ Jeremy Garrett

Grateful Web recently had an opportunity to speak with the multifarious Jeremy Garrett. The gifted multi-instrumentalist is best known as fiddler, singer, and co-songwriter of acclaimed progressive grass quintet the Infamous Stringdusters. On September 27th, Jeremy will release his anticipated newest solo release. The R.V. Sessions Volume 2 features Garrett slinging multiple acoustic instruments recorded in his R.V home studio. Garrett opened up about the new album, his life as a bluegrass musician, his continued joy of playing with the Dusters, and exciting collaborations with Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh in both intimate confides and as festival headliners.